Valve for trapped systems



May 5, 1925.

J. A. DONNELLY VALVE FOR TRAPPED SYSTEMS Filed March 22; 1921 W M W a Patented May 5, 1925.

To all whom it may concern: I

Be it known that 1, JAMES A. DoNNELLY,

Brooklyn, in the county f Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Valves for Trapped Systems, of which the following is s a specification. r

This invention relates to fluid circulating or distributing systems such 'as steam heating systems, and has for a general object to provide a more perfect control and circulation of the circulating medium. It is noted,

however, that the invention is not, of neces- 15 sity, limited to either 'steamsystems or to heating systems.

In systems for circulating steam as here-,

tofore constructed it has been the usual practice to use appliances which serve to pass the air and the Water of condensation but hold back the steam. In the system forming the subject of the present invention, it is my object, in order most efficiently to efi'ect the removal of the air and the water of condensation, to provide special combined thermostatically and weight or spring controlled means for controlling the pressure at which the steam. circulates through the various parts of the system: My invention relates particularly to that class of steam heating systems that has employed an automatic trap at the outlet of each radiating device and upon each drip of the steam main. Various forms of de- Vices have been used, static or fixed opening valves, float or motor operated valves and thermostatic valves. The latter have proved the most isatisfactory, although they have severalfiindamental defects, which it is an m object of my present invention to remove. It has always been necessary to make these traps small'and neat in appearance so 5 that they would not take up much room below the outlet of the radiators, thus allow- ,5 ing space for connecting the returns of the radiators through the floor in the usual manner. As a result of this small size-of trap, the operatingparts have been made so small that their operation has been very inefficient. Thepresence of dirt, pi scale, etc, has alwa s cause-d trouble with such 1' traps, and dir pockets or settlin chambers have usually been rovided, but tis has not been possible wit the ordinary radiator trap. These objections are overcome by my herein described invention.

UNITED. S-TATEd a citizen of the United States, residing in usually been made and adjusted at'a tem- TENT OFFICE.

JAMES A. 130mm .m From VALVE FOR TRAPPED SYSTEMS.

Application flied March 22, 1921. Serial No. 454,382.

It has been found very difficult to make thermostatic expanding fluid traps uniform in construction, so that they will all operate alike. Because of this diflicu'lty, they have perature several degrees below that of the steam from which they are to drain the water of condensation. This has resulted in the retention of water and air in the radiators, and consequent decrease of efficiency, and water hammer. My invention overcomes these difficulties. When some of the vaporizing fluid containers fail, which often occurs because of the cracking of the metal or failure of the 'solder or other sealing means, it results in the passage of. objectionable quantities of steam, and it is very difficult to discover which valves are the ones which are causing the trouble. It is necessary to inspect all the valves, and they are often in occupied rooms or in locations where access to them is very diflicult. Another ob'ect of my invention is to provide means or controlling the. valve when the thermostatic element thus fails.

In order to embody the principle of m invention in a-thermostatic trap, I provi e a spring-pressed or weighted restricting means to the seats of the traps, so that if the thermostat is adjusted for too high a temperature or if the thermostat falls to operate, the flow of steam through the trap is controlled and objectionable quantities of steam are prevented from passing to the returns. It is applicable to the individual valves at the outlet of each radiator, and at the drip points, although itvfindsits most preferable application when used in the 95 branch return connections. The necessary number of traps is thereby very materially reduced, as the arrangement is such that each valve is at readily accessible points.

When used in the branch returns, any water which may be held up before the thermostatic member operates will be held in the branch returns, to any amount for which the member may be set. While the retention of water in radiators reduces the 105 eiiiiency of the units, the holding of water in thebranches is beneficial in two ways: first, it allows the branch mains to be used for heating surfaces, and secondly it maintains a low and uniform temperature in the lower temperature of discharge than would be advisable or eilicient if the traps Were used on radiators.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will appear as the description proceeds; and while herein details of the inventionare described, the invention is not limited to these, since many and various changes may be made without departing from the scope of the invention as claimed.

In the accompanying drawing showing by way of example two of many possible embodiments of the invention,

Figure l is a diagrammatic view illustrating my invention as applied to a steam heating system;

Fig. 2 is a view of a portion of an installation showing a radiator, pipe connections, a trap and valves, the trap and valves being in section; V

Fig. 3 is a sectional view of one form of thermostatic trap or valve preferably for the branch return connections for the radiating devices; and

Fig. i is a sectional view of another form of trap.

In Figs. 1 and 2, are illustrated a steam heating system to which my invention is applied. Said system is provided with a steam supply main 10 taken from the exhaust of an engine or other device, or as live steam from a boiler or the like. The return main 11 leads into the vacuum pump 12'. Supply pipes 13 connected with the supply main 10 supply steam through ordinary inlet valves 14 to heating groups comprising a number of radiators 15 provided with the usual inlet valves 16. At the outlet of each of said radiators is a steam trap, automatic valve, or a valve such as a Weighted yielding valve device 17 interposed inthe outlet pipe 18 and shown in section in Fig. 2 and shown and described in detail in my U. S. Patent No. 974,245, issued November 1, 1910, for steam heating systems. As will be explained, instead of the valve 17, I may substitute either of the valves 0% Figs. 3 and t hereinafter more fully described.

Branch return pipes 19 connect said heating groups to the return main 11. Into each of thesebranch return pipes19 there may be inserted a safety valve, check valve,- or yielding retarding or restricting means preferably the combination spring or weight and thermostat controlled valve or trap 20 (Fig. 3) or .20 (Fig. 4) forming the principal subject matter of the present specification. The said valve device or trap 20 is preferably located as shown in Fig. 2. I may of course substitute oneform of valve device for another, but prefer to use the form of valve 17 shown in my said patent at the outlet of the radiating devices 15, and the form 20 or 20 shown in Fig. 3 or Fig.

ma am ted entirely. The valves 20.and 20*- are in effect thermostatic valves and also weighted check valves acting as pressure reducing valves.

The form of valve or trap 20 shown in Fig. 3 is constructed as shown insaid figure I,

from which it may be seen that it is made with a standard safety valve body 21 forming a casing having a horizontal partition 22 having a restricted seat 23 provided with a small leakage notch or opening 2% therein, said seat being proportioned to the capacity of the valve and the rating of the connected piping. Said casing is provided with inlet and drainage openings 26 and 27 communieating with the valve seat from beneath, and an outlet opening 28 and a guide receiving opening 29 communicating with the seat from'above. The valve disk 30 is provided with a downwardly coned projection-31 engageable in said seat and merging upwardly into an outwardly and downwardly turned impact surface 33 upon which the water of condensation strikes in order the valve shall be opened to its capacity when water is passing. -The valve i disk is also provided with a cup-shaped upper portion for holding the weights 35 and with a central threaded bore 36 open at the upper end and having a closed lower end receiving a guide tube 37 therein.

A guide cylinder 40 disposed in said guide receiving opening 29 is provided with a threaded hole 41 at the upper end receiving a threaded supporting rod 42 adjustably therein, and supporting a vaporizing-fluidthermostat 1 1 in said guide cylinder provided at its lower part with a guide rod 45 received in said tube 37 and normally terminating short of the said lower end of the bore 36. A lock nut 46 on the upper end of said supporting rod holds the latter in ad- .justed position.

Said cylinder 4:0, tube 37 and rod 45 act as guides for the valve disk and the vaporizing-fiuid-thermostat.

The area of the seat, and'the weights in all sizes of valves, are proportioned so that the cup will give about three inches of vacuum and each weight 35 one inch additional. The opening 27 in the bottom of the valve is intended as a cleanout and should be provided with a nipple and cap or, as shown. with a removable plug 48 (Fig. 2). The small leakage opening 24 is provided in the seat so that the system will drain when the plant is shut down, and-to more quickly permit of the removal of the air in starting.

The valve or trap 20 (Fig. 4) comprises a valve body 51 forming a casing having a small horizontal partition 52 having a restricted cylindrical seat 53. The casing is provided with a downwardly opening outlet opening 58 communicating with the seat from beneath, and an inlet opening 56 and a guide supporting opening 59 comnumicatingwith'the seat from above the latter receiving a guide cylinder 60 disposed over said guide supporting opening and provided with a threaded hole 61 at the upper end receiving a threaded supporting rod 62 supporting a vaporizing-fluid-thermostat 64 in said guide cylinder provided at the lower part with a valve rod 65 passing through said seat and terminating well below the seat and carrying a downwardly coned uppervalve member 67 disposed on the valve rod above said seat and engageable in said seat when the valve is lowered on the heating of said thermostat. An upwardly coned lower valve member 68 is carried on said valve rod below said seat and engageable with said seat on upward movement of the valve rod. A spring 70 on said rod is compressed between said lower valve member 68 and a collar 71 adust'ably disposed on the threaded lower end of the valve rod 65 and there held by the set-screw 72. Said spring tends yieldably to close the lower member upon the seat when the thermostat is cooled or fails.

As is usual with thermostatic traps, the traps 20 or 20 have been placed at a'reasonable distance from the drip points (8 to feet) thus allowing for storage and cooling of the water, without flooding the steam main.

The operation of my system is as follows:

Let it be assumed that steam is supplied to the radiating devices through the supply main 10 and branch supply pipes 13 and inlet valves 14 and 16 at say atmospheric pressure; and that a vacuum of about 10 inches of mercury, that is, a pressure of 10 pounds absolute is maintained in the return main 11 by the vacuum pump 12. There is thus a difference in pressure of 5 pounds between the steam supply and return. The valves 17 at the outlets of the radiating devices 15 are so weighted as to open only when there exists a difference of pressure of 1 pound between their inlet and outlet sides. -1 vacuum of 2 inches of mercury, that is, 14 pounds absolute must therefore exist in the part of the branch returns between the two said valves 17 and before the valve 17 'will open, and a pressure of 10 pounds in the part beyond the valves 20 before these will open under the conditions stated. Thevalves being closed and the radiator cold the valve 20 will be in the position of Fig. 3. On opening the valves 13 and 16 to heat the radiator, air will be drawn through the valve 17 by the pump 12, air passing through the leakage opening 24 and usually somewhat raising the valve disk 30, since the thermostat 44 is cold and contracted and the rod raised to permit the easy raising of the valve disk. Steam passes into the radiator as the air is withdrawn, and since the radiator is cold condenses to water therein, which collects in the pipes 18 and 19 and is drawn out through the seat 23, striking the impact surface and opening the valve wide, until all of the water is evacuated. Steam then passes until the thermostat becomes hot and expands, causing down ward pressure of the rod 45 upon the valve disk 30, thus closing the valve and shutting oil" the steam flow.

This condition is maintained until a quanradiator cold the valve 20 will be in the position of Fig. 4. On opening the valves 14 and 16 to heat theradiator, air will be drawn through the valve 17 by the pump 12. the air passing through the opening 56 and seat 53 somewhat lowering the lower valve member 68, against the action of the spring 70, since the thermostat 44 is cold and contracted and the rod 65 raised to draw the lower valve member closed. Steam passes into the cold radiator as the air is withdrawn and condenses therein, the water be ing drawn out through the seat 53, until it is all evacuated. Steam then passes until the thermostat becomes hot and expands, causing downward movement of the rod 65 and the upper valve member 67, thus closing the valve seat and shutting off the stealnflow.

This condition is maintained until a quantity of condensation water is collected in the pipe 19 and in the casing 51 shutting oil the steam from the thermostat. As the water is cooler than the steam, this causes the thermostat to cool raising the upper valve memher to permit the water to be again evacuated. This operation is then periodically repeated as long as steam is supplied to the radiator.

Thus with either valve 20 or 20 and under all conditions, a positive flow is established and maintained from device in suflicient quantity to etlect the removal of the air and the water of condensation. The thermostat opens the valve wide and permits the quick evacuation of the condensation water.

Should some of the vaporizing-fiuid-thermostatic containers fail. as from the cracking of the metal or failure of the solder or each radiating other sealing means, it cannot result in the passage of objectionable quantities of steam, as the weights 35 or spring 70 will act to close the valve before it can be discovered which valves are the ones which are causing the trouble.

The operation of the system as a whole is already known from my said patent.

I claim as my invention:

1. In combination, a valve casing having a single closure member; a means constantly adjustably yieldably tending to close said member; and a temperature controlled means also acting to control said same single member.

2. In combination, a single valve casing having a single seat; a single adjustably weighted valve disk yieldably engaged by gravity with said seat for the discharge side; a thermostat supported in said casing; and a connection between said disk and thermostat.

3. In combination, a valve casing having a seat; a valve disk engageable with said seat for the discharge side; athermostat supported in said casing; and an adjustable lost motion connection between said disk and thermostat.

4. In combination, a valve casing having a seat; an adjustably weighted valve disk yieldably engaged with said seat for the discharge side; a thermostat supported in said casing at its upper part; and an adjustable lost motion connection between the disk and thermostat to variably limit the movement of said disk and to depress said disk, when the thermostat expands.

5. In combination, a valve casing having a single seat; an adjustably weighted valve disk yield-ably engaged with said seat for the 4 discharge side; a thermostat supported inqfl said casing at its upper part; and a lost motion connected to the thermostat to cushion the movement of said disk.

6. In combination, a valve casing having 4 a seat; a valve disk engaged with said seat from the discharge side; means yieldably tending to close said disk; and a thermostat controlled by the temperature of the medium only after it has passed through the seat for exerting additional closing force on said disk.

7. In combination, a valve casing having a seat; a valve disk engageable with said seat from the discharge side; a thermostat controlled by the temperature of the medium that has passed through the seat for closing the disk on the seat; and additional means for closing the disk on the seat should the thermostat fail.

8. In combination, a valve casing having a seat; a valve disk; adjustably yieldable means tending to close said valve on said seat from the discharge side; a thermostat controlled by the temperature of the medium that has passed through the seat for exerting further closing action on the disk; and means for adjusting the action of the thermostat.

JAMES A. DONNEIJLY.

Witnesses:

H. M. KnmATnIoK, H. D. PENNEY. 

